Led by Star Katie Ellis, Lyons Girls Golf Powers On

You'll have to do more than set a school record to stop the Lions.

The Hinsdale South Hornets girls golf team posted a 175 between its top four scorers—a record in the school's 20-year program—but couldn't match Lyons Township's year-low 161 in a dual meet at Village Greens of Woodridge on Monday.

LTHS junior star Katie Ellis led the charge with a one-over-par 37 on the course's back nine, which, despite playing to a short 2642 yards, kept players on their toes with narrow fairways and harrowing water hazards.

After barely saving a bogey with a long putt on 12, Ellis—who has only been playing for two years—hit a pitching wedge to one-and-a-half feet on the 90-yard 13^th hole, and sank the tap-in for a birdie. She held par for the rest of the round, except for a bogey on the narrow 16^th.

"I thought it was going in from the tee box," Ellis said of her spot-on wedge shot. "I was like, 'I have to get back to even.' So that was definitely a good one.

"There's never been any dull moment with the game of golf."

The afternoon was redemptive for LT sophomore Lindsay Purpura, whose recent slump reached its nadir with an appalling 126 over 18 holes at the Bishop McNamara Invitational. Playing in the fifth spot, she shot an excllent 39 on Monday to finish second among Lions, and better than any Hornet.

"I just couldn't move the ball—it was bad [at the Invitational,] Purpura said. "So this feels pretty good."

Freshman Ciara Rattana also shot her best round of the year playing in the number-two slot, posting a 40, including a 30-foot birdie putt at 13 (along with playing-partner Ellis.) She was poised for even better after a great drive and approach at the short par-5 18^th, but chipped poorly and made bogey.

"I feel pretty good about it today, one of my best rounds of the season," said Rattana, one of two freshmen on the varsity team. "I'm looking to improve some more, start shooting in the high-30s… I'm hoping for the best, but it's a team sport, so we've got to all pull."

LTHS top-four placing was rounded out with a tie between sophomore Rachael Johnson and freshman Katie Daugherty, both posting 45.

Hinsdale South scorers were Brittany Declouette (41,) Angela DiFiglio (44,) Angali Pal (44) and Emily Peterson (46.) The team has never been a powerhouse, and only boasts twelve members between the two teams, but is making a dramatic improvement this year. They have previously also posted 177 and 176 this year.

"It means a lot [to us,] hopefully getting to the point where we want to be at this point in the season, playing with some confidence against a really tough team," said Hinsdale South coach Julie Sweet. "It's really exciting for us, and I'm really proud of the girls.

The victory brings LTHS to 7-1 in dual meets, having atoned for an opening loss to Hinsdale Central with a dominating six-meet string of wins (over Downers Grove North, Willowbrook, Glenbard West, Downers Grove South, Oak Park River Forest, and Addison Trail.) The team has also placed highly in several regional tournaments, most recently third of 14 teams at the Bishop McNamara Invitational.

"I feel very excited for the girls that they're playing the best golf of their lives," said LTHS head coach Brad Anderson. "There's nothing that a coach wants more than that, because it gives them confidence, gives them momentum going into the postseason in the next couple of weeks."

The Lions play York High School on Wednesday, and then have both a tournament and a Sandburg High dual meet at Silver Lake CC. They return to Village Greens on the 29^th for the West Suburban Conference Meet.